Variable stroke mechanism



1969 B. FANINGER VARIABLE STROKE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.27, 1967 Inventor:

BRuA/o FHA mas M Anon/5y;

8, 69 B. FANINGER 3,478,543

VARIABLE STROKE MECHANISM Filed Dec. 27, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvenfar:BELLA/0 FAWN/6 ER 3,478,543 VARIABLE STROKE MECHANISM Bruno Fauinger,Avenida Grau 676, Miraflores, Lima, Peru Filed Dec. 27, 1967, Ser. No.693,997

Int. CLD04b 27/10 US. C]. 6686 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Theinvention relates to a variable stroke mechanism for the guide bar of awarp knitting machine, more particularly a Raschel machine having apattern facility connected to the variable stroke mechanism.

In Raschel machines, the guide bar must be adapted to move lengthwiserelatively to the needle bar in accordance with the required pattern.Starting from a Zero position, the guide bar is adjustable so that itremains stationary or moves in either direction by an amountcorresponding to an integral multiple of the needle spacing. Thisoperation is often referred to as shogging. The guide bar may beadjusted in this way over the whole length of the needle bar in apilgrims step motion during the Whole time that the machine is inoperation. In the known variable stroke mechanisms the guide bars areresiliently biased by a spring in one direction and are shifted in theother direction by a linkage which abuts a pattern chain. The patternchain comprises various links of different height and the different linkheights represent the distance through which it is required to move theneedle bar in every phase, a chain link corresponding to each phase. Thechains run over a pattern cylinder, and as they run the actuatinglinkage of the guide bars senses the chains. A chain of this kind mustbe provided for each guide bar and may be of considerable length.Pattern chains are very heavy and very costly and, in many cases whereRaschel machines are used, represent a large investment outlay. Thechains must be machined accurately, and when it is required to alter apattern, new chains are required. Rigging up new chains is a verydifficult and tedious operation since the chains may have to be pulledover very considerable distances. Since the chains may be required tomove the guide bar beyond the complete needle bar, individual links ofthe chains may be very large and heavy. The high investment outlay andinconvenient handling characteristics of the pattern chains of theseknown variable stroke mechanisms are very disadvantageous.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a variable strokemechanism for the guide bar of a warp knitting machine, the inventionobviating the need for pattern chains.

According to the invention, a variable stroke mechanism for the guidebar of a Warp knitting machine, more particularly a Raschel machinehaving a pattern facility connected to the variable stroke mechanism,comprises a reciprocating drive operated synchronously with the machine,a drive linkage connected to the guide bar, a controllable clutchthrough which the drive linkage is United States Patent connected to thereciprocating drive, and a clutch control by which the clutch operationis controlled .in accordance with pattern data stored in a data carrier.

A feature of the invention is that a reciprocating drive which isoperated synchronously by the machine is used to move the guide bar. Thereciprocating drive which, when the machine is in operation, alwaysmoves in time with the machine, is coupled via a controllable slippingclutch to a drive linkage connected to the guide bar. In the novelmechanism the movements of the guide bar are derived from a continuouslyoperating reciprocating drive, a clutch being provided and operated insuch manner that only when the clutch is able to transmit power vis amovement transmitted from the oscillating drive to the guide bar. Toenable the guide bar to be accurately adjusted in the required manner inaccordance with a pattern, a clutch control is provided whichcorresponds to the gauge of the machine and which can be adjusted to therequired length of guide bar movement by pattern data stored on a datacarrier. The construction is such that the clutch control is operated sothat the guide bar performs a predetermined movement. The length of themovement is derived from a data carrier which can be of a known kind.

- The invention provides a very simple construction and a novel drivegiving very simple adjustment and control of the movement of the guidebar. Advantageously, the controllable clutch can be a slipping clutchwhich is rigidly connected to the drive linkage and which is slidable onthe reciprocating drive; and the clutch control facility can havewithdrawable stops or abutments which extend into the path of the clutchand whose spacings from one another correspond to the needle spacing ofthe machine. In other words, the oscillating drive drives the slippingclutch over a distance determined by withdrawable abutments. The use ofwithdrawable abutments ensures reproducible adjustment. It is a simplematter to relate the spacings between the abutments to the spacingsbetween the needles. To alter the needle spacing, it is a simple matterto change the set of abutments or stops.

The drive linkage can have a member which is connected to the slippingclutch and is also connected, via a reversing device controllable by therecorded data to another member connected to the guide bar. The clutchcontrol device has abutments in a number corresponding to the requiredmaximum movement of the guide bars. The advantage of this feature isthat the guide bar movement can be adjusted over the whole length of theneedle bar without any need for the slipping clutch to make acorresponding movement and without a very large number of stops needingto be provided. For instance, seven or more stops can be provided sothat the guide bar can make a maximum movement over seven or moreneedles. The known control facilities cannot provide maximum movementover seven or more needles. The known control facilities cannot providemaximum movements of such extent.

The drive-linkage portion connected to the sliding clutch can have twooppositely moving drive parts which are disposed one on each side of adrive bar connected to the guide bar and a reversing device can bedisposed between each drive part and the drive bar. It then becomes asimple matter for the guide bar to be moved in one direction or theother from an initial position, the

opposed drive initiating guide bare movement when the sliding clutchmoves from the initial position as far as a stop. Depending upon whichof the oppositely moving drive parts is engaged, this rectilinear motionis converted either into a movement in the one direction or a movementin the opposite direction.

The drive linkage may include a velocity change. This velocity change isconvenient in cases in which needle spacings are very small. The clutchsystem can be of larger size with respect to the other parts, therebyproviding improved accuracy and increased strength.

The drive-linkage member which can be rigidly connected to the slippingclutch can have two parallel drive rods which can be applied, throughthe agency of a reversing device controlled by the recorded data, toopposite sides of a drive wheel connected to a second drive wheel indriving engagement with a drive bar connected to the guide bar. Thisarrangement provides a very simple reciprocating drive linkage. Thedrive rods can engage frictionally with drive Wheel. Alternatively, thedrive rods can be toothed racks which mesh with a gear wheel.

To provide a velocity change, the diameter of one drive wheel.Alternatively, the drive rods can be toothed racks which mesh with agear wheel.

To provide a velocity change, the diameter of one drive wheel can begreater than the diameter of the other drive wheel. More particularly,the diameter of the first drive wheel can, with advantage, be greaterthan the diameter of the second drive wheel, to give a downward velocitychange.

The stops can be slidably mounted in guides in a baseplate, the stopsbeing operated by electromagnets. Different sets of stops can thereforebe provided, so that when it is required to alter the gauge of amachine, all that is needed is to change the stop box to suit the newneedle spacing.

To save space the stops can be disposed in staggered relationship in twoor more rows adjacent one another.

The data carrier may be moved by the machine in synchronism therewithpast a detecting or sensing station through the agency of a steppingmechanism. The data carrier can be of the kind known in the art, e.g. aperforated tape or a magnetic tape or film. Pattern data is stored inadjacent rows on the data carrier.

Conveniently, data recording facilities are provided in the same numberas the machine has guide bars, in which case the data carrier comprisesone row of data for each guide bar. For instance, if the machine has 42guide bars, 42 rows of data are provided, side by side, on the datacarrier. The data required for controllable actuation of the reversingdevice and sliding clutch are stored in the data row for each guide bar.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings diagrammatically show an embodiment of the invention and inwhich FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a variable strokemechanism according to the invention for the guide bar of a warpknitting machine, the main parts of the latter being omitted;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the stop or abutment box shown in FIGURE 1;and

FIGURE 3 is an exploded diagrammatic perspective view of a data carriersensing station.

Referring to FIGURE 1 there can be seen a guide bar 1 and a drive shaft2 which is connected to the main drive of a warp knitting (not shown).These parts are mounted in the machine frame and shaft 2 is driven bythe machine main drive in synchronism therewith. Mounted on shaft 2 is abevel gear 3 which meshes with a bevel gear 4 secured to a shaft 5carried in a bracket 6 mounted on the machine. Shaft 5 has at its otherend another bevel gear 7 which meshes with a bevel gear 8 shown indotted lines. Bevel gear 8 is disposed on a shaft 9 which is mounted, inbearings which are not shown, in the machine frame. Mounted on shaft 9is a cam 10 which is driven in synchronism with the machine main drive.Secured to the side of the machine is a baseplate 11 bearing a bracket12 on which a double-armed lever 14 is mounted on a pivot 13. The bottomend of lever 14 bears a cam follower roller 15 which engages with thecam 10, so that as shaft 9 rotates, lever 14 pivots about pivot 13.Secured to baseplate 11 are two uprights 16, 17 which can be secured tothe baseplate by screwing or welding or which can, if required, beintegral with base plate 11. Uprights 16, 17 have upper bearings 18, 19in which a rod 20, pivotally connected to lever 14, is slidably mounted.When the machine main drive rotates shaft 2, the drive described andshown reciprocates the rod 20. The parts hereinbefore described form anoscillating drive operated synchronously with the machine.

Also mounted in uprights 16, 17 are lower bearings 21, 22 in which adrive rod 23 is slidably mounted. A sliding clutch 24 is secured, forexample, by pins 25, to rod 23 between the uprights 1'6 and 17 and issubstantially an elongated prismatic member which extends upwards anddownwards from the rod 23. Clutch 24 is formed at the top with anaperture 26 through which the rod 20 extends. Clutch 24 engagesfrictionally, by way of its aperture 26, with the rod 20 so as to bemoved thereby when rod 20 moves. However, when clutch 24 strikes a stop,rod 20 can slide in aperture 26.

In the embodiment shown, a sliding shoe 27 is slidingly mounted in abore in the upper part of clutch 24 and is biased by a spring 28 againstrod 20. Shoe 27 can be made of a wear-resistant material. Spring 28bears at its upper end against a screw which can be adjusted by means ofa nut 29 to adjust the pressure of the spring 28.

If the clutch 24 meets no abutment in its movement, rod 23 moves insynchronism with rod 20.

Outside the uprights 16, 17 rod 23 is connected to a cross-bar 28 whichreciprocates with drive rod 23 and which extends vertically. Toothedracks 29, 30 are pivotally connected to the top and bottom ends ofcross-bar 28 and are adapted to pivot on pivot pins 31, 32. Teeth '33,34 of the racks 29, 30 engage on opposite sides with the teeth 35 of agear wheel 36 disposed on a shaft 37 mounted in brackets 38. Thebrackets are secured to baseplate 11 e.g. by screwing. A second gearwheel 39 is disposed on shaft 37 and meshes with the teeth of a guidebar toothed rack 40 mounted for sliding movement on baseplate 11. Ascrewed-in head 41 is disposed at one end of rack 40. The position ofhead 41 can be adjusted by means of an adjusting screw 42. As is showndiagrammatically, one end of guide bar 1 has a ball-and-socketconnection with the head 41.

A bearer 43 is secured to the machine and extends between the toothedracks 29 and 30 and projects beyond both of them. Arms 44, 45 extendfrom both ends of bearer 43 substantially parallel to the ends of theracks 29, 30 and have at their ends abutments 46, 47 for the racks 29,30. Actuating electromagnets 48, 49 are also disposed on the arms 44,45. Actuating rods 50, 51 extend from the electromagnets 48, 49 and haveat their end rollers 52, 53 disposed in slots 54, 55 in the ends of thetoothed racks 29, 30. Also disposed in the slots 54, 55 are rollers 56,57 connected by rods 58, 59 to springs 60, 61 which are connected to thearms 44, 45 and can be adjusted by means of nuts 62.

As shown, the clutch 24 extends downwardly between the uprights 16 and17 and has a projection 63. A stop or abutment box 64 is disposed in thepath of the projection '63 and is releasably secured to the baseplate 11e.g. by set screws 65. The box 64 has vertically extending guides 66.Preferably, the baseplate 11 is recessed below the guides 66.Retractable stops 67 are disposed in the guides 66. In the embodimentshown, seven stops '67 are disposed in two adjacent rows. Electromagnets68 can move the stops 67 out and in. The electromagnets 68 are disposedin a bracket 69 which, as can be seen, is secured below the baseplate 11e.g. by the set screws 65, the electromagnets 68 being disposedimmediately below the associated stop 67. The electromagnets 68 andstops 67 are interconnected by actuating rods 70 which, in theembodiment shown, are guided in a crosspiece 71.

Supply wiring a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i extends from the electromagnets48, 49 and 68 to a contact box 71 which is shown diagrammatically inFIGURE 3 and which is disposed in the path of a pattern data carrier 72.The data carrier is formed with lateral perforations 73 in whichsprockets 74 or the like engage in known manner. The sprockets 74 aredisposed on a shaft 75 which is driven stepwise through a drive shaft 76which may, for example, be an extension of the shaft 2, or which isconnected to the machine main drive in some other manner. The aim of thedrive is to step the shaft 75 rotationally in synchronism with theoperation of the warp knitting machine. In the embodiment shown, thestepping mechanism comprises a Geneva wheel 77 co-operating with a crank78 secured to the shaft 76.

In the embodiment shown, the data carrier 72 is a perforated tape whichthe stepping mechanism moves stepwise over the contact box 71 insynchronism with the motion of the warp knitting machine. Themovementalways corresponds to a required actuation or operation phase. Theembodiment shown comprises seven stops 67, and therefore seven actuatingelectromagnets 68 and two electromagnets 48, 49, so that a maximum ofnine possible actuations is provided. The data support 72 is formed withperforation rows to the same number as the warp knitting machine hasguide bars 1, a variable stroke facility of the kind described beingallotted to each guide bar, so that if the machine has e.g. 42 guidebars 1, 42 variable stroke facilities are provided. Only a single systemis required extending from the shaft 2 to the lever 14, since thisoscillating movement need only be provided once and can then betransmitted via an appropriate cross-linkage to the 42 adjacent rods 20;

Each row of perforations in the data carrier 72 can contain as many dataas there are stops 67 and therefore electromagnets 68; two aperturepositions are also required for the electromagnets 48, 49.

In the embodiment shown, the contact box 71 cooperates with a matchingcontact box 79 having contact pins 80 disposed in exactly the samepattern as contacts 81 in the contact box 71. The arrangement of thecontacts 81 and matching contacts 80 corresponds to the data stored inthe data carrier 71.

In operation the box 79 is biased resiliently against the box 71 and thedata support 72 moves stepwise between the boxes 71 and 79. At a givensetting, and in accordance with the data stored on the tape, particularpins 80 and contacts 81 make electrical contact with one another. As isshown in diagrammatic form, the box 79 is connected to a power supply 2.A particular series of electromagnets in the control arrangement istherefore energized in accordance with the stored pattern data.

OPERATION As already explained, a variable stroke mechanism of the kinddescribed is provided for each guide bar 1 of the machine, e.g. aRaschel machine. The variable stroke mechanisms forming the series areso disposed side by side that one mechanism acts on each particularguide bar. As already stated, the drive for all the rods 20 can bederived from a single rocking lever 14.

When the machine is in operation, to produce the pattern the guide bar 1must be moved to the right or to the left by a predetermined number ofneedle spacings in accordance with the pattern. In the embodiment shown,the maximum needle bar movement in this sense is seven needles to theleft or to the right.

The required pattern has been recorded or stored in the data carrier 73,which may be of any known kind. It can, as shown, be a perforated tape.Alternatively, the pattern data can be stored magnetically or inphotographic film form, with magnetic or photocell sensing. It isimmaterial for the purposes of this invention how the pattern data arestored and how they are scanned, the important thing being merely that asimple available data system be used to initiate signals for controllingthe electromagnets 68, 48, 49.

In the embodiment shown, in which the data carrier 72 is a perforatedtape, the same is formed with data rows to the same number as themachine has guide bars 1, i.e., one data row is provided per guide bar.The data row is programmed, i.e., apertures are disposed in a particularmanner in these data rows. The first two positions in the row can beallotted, for instance, to the electromagnets 48, 49. In the absence ofa hole at these first two positions the two electromagnets 48, 49 areun-energized and the springs 60, 61 disengage the racks 29, 30 from thewheel 36, so that when the mechanism is operated, the rack 40 movesneither to the right nor to the left. Consequently, if a particularguide bar 1 is required to move neither to the right nor to the left ina particular phase of operation, the data carrier 72 is so encoded forsuch phase that the two electromagnets 48, 49 are not energized. If itis required, for instance, to shift the guide bar 1 seven needlesforwards from a particular position which will be called the zeroposition, one of the first two positions which control theelectromagnets 48 or 49 responsible for operative movement of the guidebar has a perforation. In the embodiment shown, movement always occursonly in the movement phase during which the clutch 24 is moving to theleft towards the stops 67. If a forwards movement (i.e., a movement ofthe guide bar 1 to the left) is to be derived from this, the control issuch that the electromagnet 49 is un-energized so that the rack 29 hasbeen moved back out of engagement with the wheel 36. The rack 30engages, and upon an actuation the gear wheel 36 is rotated, and therotation of the gear wheel 36 -by the rack 30 shifts the rack 40 to theleft. For a movement in the opposite direction, the corresponding placeson the tape are so encoded that the electromagnet 48 is un-energized andthe electromagnet 49 operates. The rack 30 therefore disengages from thegear wheel 36 and the rack 29 engages therewith. When the clutch 24 nowmoves to the left, the gear wheel 36 is so rotated via the rack 29 thatthe rack 40 moves to te right. Clearly, therefore, depending upon howthe first two positions of --the data rows are encoded, theelectromagnets 48, 49 can be so operated that the guide bar 1 eitherremains stationary or is shifted from the predetermined position over adesired number of needles to the left or over a desired number ofneedles to the right.

The travel of the racks 29, 30 is determined by means of theelectromagnets 68. Depending upon how many perforations follow the firsttwo perforations of a data row, the same number of electromagnets isenergized via the lines 0 to i and a corresponding number of stops 67 isretracted. If movement over just a single needle is required, only thefirst line i is energized so that the first stop 67 is retracted.Consequently, the clutch 24 can move with the rod 20 until the abutmentor projection 63 abuts the next stop 67. When the projection 63 abutsthe next stop 67, the rod 23 remains completely stationary and the rod20 slides in the clutch 24. During the return movement the clutch 24 ismoved back by the rod 20 to the initial position.

Clearly, therefore, any desired length of stroke can be provided byappropriate encoding of the data carrier 72.

In the embodiment shown, to save space, the stops are disposed in twoadjacent rows. The stops can, of course, be disposed in a single row.The guide bar stops exactly in the predetermined position. Conveniently,since the discrete steps required may sometimes be very small, avelocity changing transmission can be provided as in the embodimentshown. Clearly, the gear wheels 36, 39 alter the stroke of the rod 23,providing a step-down in the present case. The stops 67 can therefore befurther apart from one another and more stable than they would otherwisebe, ensuring reliable operation in all circumstances.

With the variable stroke mechanism disclosed, the guide bar 1 can beadjusted stepwise in any steps forwards and backwards over the wholewidth of the machine, although the mechanism has a reduced maximumstroke.

The racks 29, 30 and wheels 36, 39 can be replaced by other means fortransmitting the movement of the rod 23 to the rack 40. For instance,the rack 40 can have teeth on two sides, and levers can be disposedopposite these two toothed sides and can be so connected to the rod 23as to be driven oppositely. Clutches can be provided between such leversand the rack 40 so that either the two levers are disengaged or one ofthem is operatively connected to the rack 40 to move the same in eitherdirection by a predetermined amount. This facility can also, ifrequired, comprise transmission linkage.

The stop box 64 is interchangeable and the stops 67 are disposed atintervals corresponding to the needle to needle spacings. Consequently,when it is required to change the gauge of the articles being producedon the machine, all that is necessary is to make a correspondingexchange of the stop and electromagnet boxes. If required, these twokinds of boxes can be embodied as constructional units.

I claim:

1. A variable stroke mechanism for the guide bar of a warp knittingmachine having a pattern facility connected to the variable strokemechanism and comprising: a reciprocating drive operated synchronouslywith the machine, said drive comprising slide bar means; clutch meanscarried by said slide bar means by frictional engagement; 2. drivelinkage connected to said guide bar and rigidly secured to said clutchmeans in order that said drive linkage is able to move simultaneouslywith said slide bar means; a control for said clutch means by which theclutch operation is controlled in accordance with pattern data stored ina data carrier, and comprising abutments positioned in the path of theclutch and selectively withdrawable, wherein the spacing betweenabutments corresponds to the needle spacing of the machine so that saidclutch means drive said drive linkage until the clutch encounters anabutment, and whereupon said drive linkage stops and said slide barslides in said clutch; and a reversing clutch coupled to said guide barand serving as a means to which said drive linkage is connected.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which the reversing clutchcomprises two driving rods engageable with opposite sides of a clutchwheel, comprising means by which rotation of the clutch wheel producesmovement of the guide bar, the engagement of one or other of the drivingrods being controllable by the stored data.

3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which the drive linkage providesa velocity ratio between the reciprocating drive and the guide rod otherthan 1:1.

4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3 in which the velocity ratio otherthan 1:1 is provided by a toothed wheel of different diameter to theclutch wheel and connected thereto, comprising a rack coupled to theguide bar and engaged by the toothed wheel of difierent diameter.

5. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 comprising a box in which theabutments are slidably contained so that they may he slid into and outof the path of the controllable clutch, comprising also an electromagnetwith an actuating rod for each abutment, energization of theelectromagnet causing the associated abutment to be slid out of the pathof the controllable clutch, the energization and de-energization of theelectromagnets being controllable by the stored data.

6. A mechanism as claimed in claim 5 in which the box is readilyremovable to enable a set of abutments of different size to besubstituted when the gauge of the machine is to be changed.

7. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 comprising an intermittent drivefor driving the data carrier in synchronism with the machine, andsensing means to sense the recorded data.

8. A mechanism as claimed in claim 7 in which the data carrier is in theform of a strip of material which carries the recorded data, the sensingmeans being of appropriate type to the data carrier.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,431,828 10/1922 Markman 66-861,486,780 3/1924 MaXik 66126 1,568,953 1/1926 Hirsch et a1. 66872,265,400 12/ 1941 Schonfeld 66-86 3,006,170 10/1961 Chapuis 66863,089,322 5/1963 Bruce 6686 XR RONALD FELDBAUM, Primary Examiner

